Green Teach for Opportunity

GUP-25: Tapping into Water Wisdom: Interdisciplinary Skills for a Precious Resource

How do we bridge the water skills gap and prepare students for purpose-driven careers in this extensive, multidisciplinary field? At the Green UpSkill Summit (GUP-25), educators and industry leaders explored water-focused pathways that transcend traditional roles.

We delved into the water cycle, from habitat recharge to clean water solutions, exploring ways to link education and industry needs.

Chelsea Hayward (Jacobs), John Wear (Catawba College), Sarah Jewett, and Maria Sanchez (UMBC) highlighted the need for interdisciplinary, systems-thinking approaches.

Three key takeaways:

● Diverse Roles Tap Diverse Skills: Water careers span numerous fields from animal behaviorists to process engineers, addressing challenges like drought risk and decarbonization.
● Systems Thinking is Vital: Understanding the interconnectedness of energy, housing, transportation, and food systems is crucial for sustainable water management.
● Projects Support Learning: Campus projects, community collaborations, and applied research provide students invaluable experience and career insights.

The linked article explores the diverse roles, skills, and tools we discussed at GUP-25's water session and provides tips on integrating related pathways across the curriculum. The piece also highlights resources from the IWA, Jacobs, and UNESCO.

Read the article and join us for the Summer Skills Showcase, starting on the Solstice, June 21, 2025 for more insights into clean economy pathways, and be sure to join us for GUP-26, February 10-13, 2026.

www.gto.eco/skillsfestival

(Special thanks to Speakers, Co-sponsors, Organizers, and Advisors, including: Aaron S. Allen, Capri St.Vil, Chelsea Hayward, Elayna Trucker, Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) Network, John Wear, Liz Dickinson, Luke Leung, Maria Sanchez, Martin Ogle, Megan Walters, Ed.D., Neil Chris Gico, Nikko Concepcion, Niki Mann, Ofili Chidinma, Sarah Jewett, Tiffany Jacobs, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, UNCG Career & Professional Development, and UNCG Environment & Sustainability Program)

Tapping into Water Wisdom: Seeing Student Opportunity Requires an Interdisciplinary Lens (GUP-25 Lesson Three) A Water Jobs report notes a looming retirement wave, skills gap, disconnect between education and employer needs, and reluctance of recruits to enter the field (UNESCO 2016). You get a different view when you speak to Chelsea Hayward, a process engineer at Jacobs (a leading integrated water solution

Lessons from the Green UpSkill Summit (Lesson Two: Our Students Want Clean and Climate Tech Jobs Regardless of Politics)

As educators, we guide students toward regenerative and hopeful career paths.

Clean and climate tech is often a popular choice because the sector melds students' interest in advanced digital technologies and AI with environmental concerns and tends to pay well.

It is important to stay on the pulse of job and skill demand so we can effectively guide our students.

Recently, we convened with 216 education leaders from diverse global locales over three days for the second annual Green UpSkill Summit (GUP-25), a virtual professional development symposium exploring skills, hiring trends, and career pathways.

The clean and climate tech session, moderated by Martin Ogle of Entrepreneurial Earth, was the first of the three days.

Speakers represented climate and clean tech roles, such as communications, engineering, project management, nanotechnology, materials sciences, and education.

Key takeaways:

~ Chioma Yvonne Aninwe (Aspire Climate Vanguard) highlighted job creation goals and ways to bridge the skills gap in Africa's clean energy sector.
~ Sheeba Dawood (Minerva Lithium) discussed nanotechnology's role in environmentally friendly lithium extraction and implications for EV and clean energy storage battery supply chains.
~ Juan Pablo (JP) Maureira (ENERGIQA) presented a case study on a cost-competitive solar power and workforce education project in the Amazon rainforest.
~ Helen B. Whiteley (Duke University, Benecomms, and WiCT+) emphasized community-scaled clean energy initiatives and student entrepreneurship.

A Note on Recent Trends:

Despite students' demand for cleaner, greener work and the science-based imperative to cut carbon emissions, explicitly labeled "green" jobs appear to have decreased in recent weeks.

Just weeks ago, the Climate Tech List showed over 30,000 jobs, and LinkedIn over 58,000. As of today, February 28, 2025, The List reports 19,173 available clean and climate tech jobs. Clean energy (1,547 jobs) and transportation (650 jobs) are the leading sectors among the 11 listed. Other sources, documented in our GUP newsletters, count millions of existing and projected green jobs worldwide, especially in agriculture and clean energy.

The decline in active green job listings clearly reflects shifting political winds, but as David Orr noted at a recent NASEM meeting, "Science doesn't care about politics."

We must grow, not diminish, the next generation's opportunities to create clean, resilient economies. We owe it to our students to heed the science and respect their interest in better work for healthier communities.

Thanks to Martin, Sheeba, Juan Pablo, Helen, and Chioma for shedding light on the opportunities while making an appreciable difference for our students, communities, and planet.

GUP-25: A Brighter Future of Work in the Conceptual Age-It's About Learning, Earning, and Returning

How do we create a brighter, more sustainable future of work? Last week, educators and students from five continents gathered at the Green UpSkill Summit (GUP-25) to envision how we prepare students to create this future for a world requiring creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Over three days, we examined promising career pathways in key areas like clean tech, transport, the future of water, and community resilience.
Keynote speaker Tiffany Jacobs, Executive Director of FORGE Greensboro, highlighted the shift from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age, emphasizing a new mantra: Learning, Earning, and Returning.

Three of Jacobs's key takeaways:

● Creators are Needed: The new economy needs innovators to solve complex problems for communities and the planet.
● Human Skills are Vital: Creativity, emotional intelligence, and collaboration will set individuals apart.
● Apprenticeships Offer a Path: Hands-on learning and "earn while you learn" models are essential for navigating this evolving job market.

Stay tuned for more insights from GUP-25 on how we can guide students toward careers that benefit communities and the planet.



UNCG Environment & Sustainability Program
WWW.GTO.ECO

We're excited to invite you to the Green UpSkill Summit (GUP-25)! My team and I created this event specifically for school guidance counselors, employers, and educators like you who are motivated to prepare students for career paths.

Are you looking to:
● Guide students toward in-demand sustainability skills?
● Clarify hiring trends & the market demand for green talent?
● Shape future opportunities in dialogue with other educators & employers?
● Advance STEM skills with a purpose?

Join us on February 12-14, 2025 (live & online) for:
● A keynote by Tiffany Jacobs of the Forge Greensboro
● Insights from 20+ sustainability experts worldwide
● Multi-disciplinary panels on clean tech, climate resilience, transport, & water
● The latest from LinkedIn's Efrem Bycer
● Greener Career Paths 101 with me, L. J. Keniry
● Dialogue with Marilyn Waite, author of Sustainability at Work

➡️ Register at www.gto.eco/gup25

This World Teachers' Day, I'm reflecting on the remarkable educators who shaped my path and the paths of so many others. They weren't all in classrooms – some were colleagues, mentors, and even peers at workshops. But they shared a common thread: a passion for teaching and a belief in our potential. They encouraged us to think holistically, to consider the interconnectedness of things, and to seek solutions that address the root of the problem. They showed us that actions like energy efficiency aren't just about saving resources; they're about creating a better world for everyone. These teachers went beyond their professional roles; they offered guidance, opportunities, and support, often behind the scenes. A funder once told me that nearly every sustainability leader he'd met was inspired by one special teacher. It's true. Thank you to all the teachers shaping a healthier, happier planet, one student at a time.
-Lisa Julian Keniry
Principal/SMEF

Educators discover the extraordinary potential of green careers for your students. Learn firsthand from industry leaders why these jobs offer top-tier opportunities to make a positive impact for people and planet, while providing deeply fulfilling careers on multiple levels.

🎯 February 12-14, 2025: Reserve Your Spot Today! 🔗 gto.eco/gup25

GUP-25 is up next year. Discover new ways to integrate green skills into your teaching. Join the world's most innovative employers and practitioners to prepare students for the best careers on Earth.

📅 Save the Date: February 12-14, 2025. Pre-register here: gto.eco/gup25

Need help to infuse relevant sustainability learning while keeping up with workforce changes? Join GUP-25 to identify pathways to good jobs for students across myriad fields, kindle hope, and build connections.

🎯 February 12-14, 2025: Reserve Your Spot Today! 🔗 gto.eco/gup25